More than 4,200 Israelis enter Al-Aqsa Mosque compound as Ben-Gvir visits holy site

Palestinian officials say restrictions have been tightened as settlers entered the holy compound

More than 4,200 Israeli settlers and members of far-right groups have entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also visited the compound under heavy police protection on Thursday during the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av, Al Jazeera reported.

Tisha B'Av commemorates the destruction of the ancient Jewish temples, believed by Jews to have stood at the site known as the Temple Mount.

Muslims regard the same site as the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest place.

The Jerusalem governorate of the Palestinian Authority said 4,288 Israelis had entered the compound by Thursday afternoon, adding that the number was expected to continue rising until sunset and could reach 5,000, surpassing previous records for the holiday.

Palestinian officials accused Israeli security forces of imposing strict restrictions at the compound's gates, preventing large numbers of Palestinian worshippers and students from entering, and assaulting several worshippers.

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli authorities also tightened security across occupied East Jerusalem, including at checkpoints such as Qalandiya, allowing only limited access to the mosque compound.

The Jerusalem governorate said Israeli visitors performed Talmudic rituals inside the compound, including prayers, singing and prostration.

Israeli media reported that police allowed more than 1,000 Jewish visitors to pray at the site on Thursday.

Under the status quo arrangement in place since Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967, non-Muslims are permitted to visit the compound but are not allowed to pray there.

Ben-Gvir said Jews visiting the site during Tisha B'Av "feel like the owners" and described the growing number of Jewish visitors as "tremendous progress", according to Israel's Haaretz newspaper.